Lecture and demonstration on Ikebana arranged

Japan Cultural Centre, Consulate General of Japan, Karachi and Japan Cultural Association Sindh arranged a colourful event of "Ikebana lecture and demonstration" at a local hotel here on Thursday.
Mrs Khadijah Soomro, wife of Senate Chairman Mohammedmian Soomro, was the chief guest on the occasion. Fatima Suraiya Bajia, president, Pak-Japan Cultural Association, Sindh and Kanji Hanagata, Council General of Japan, were also present on the occasion.
Khadijah said that Japan had always been Pakistan's most sincere friend. The Pak-Japan friendship has helped both the countries monetarily and morally in times of need.
She said that though we may differ in religion, culture and language, we share commonality in matters concerning Ikebana and in many other pleasant events because after all we are Asians.
Khadijah praised and felicitated Ikebana's Senior Master Sozan Nakamura's exotic arrangements of flowers.
"I would like to see continuation of efforts towards increasing international friendship through an understanding of Japan Cultural Arts. In future, our deep, mutual, friendly relations will continue with the same zeal," she said.
Kanji Hanagata said that the Japan Foundation has been sending Japanese experts and cultural troupes abroad to introduce Japanese culture in different countries. It is also inviting people of other countries to Japan with similar objectives.
"Being an "Asian Family" member, Japan places high priority on Asian countries in terms of promoting friendly relations and for that reason the Japan Foundation is sending many experts to Pakistan and today Sozan has come to show his skills and mastery in the art of Ikebana, he added.
He said, Ikebana is truly a creative art and is an integrated element of Japan's traditional culture. It has been handed down from generations in Japan and has become a kind of symbol of Japan's cultural heritage.
Sozan Nakamura a senior master instructor from the Sogetsu School of Ikebana demonstrated about 10 different Ikebana style flower arrangements by his assistant Sairin Mori.
He used natural flowers, leaves, grass vegetables, dry leaves, branches and some rare flowers.
Ikebana is a creativity of art. Sozan believes, Ikebana is an ideal vehicle of promoting peace and prosperity for everyone, and break the threshold of anxiety wherever it may exist.
Fatima Suraiya Bajia praised the Ikebana's master arrangement.